Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16
Nearly Fourteen Hundred Men En-.
rolled I'm the District Militia.


HOW THE WORK OF ORGANIZATION PROGRESSES
oRDwAY WELL sATIsFIED-sEvEN BArTALIoNs TO
BE FoRMED-THE UNIFORM ADoPrED-rHE ORGAN
HATIONs MUSTERED IN.
When a STAR reporter asked Gen Ordway the
other day what he thought Of the District militia
the general leaned back from his desk, which was
covered with militia papers, and with a thor
oughly satisfied expression OF countenance said
"The prospects couldn't be better. We have the
undivided support Of the executive branch OF the
Government, from the President down, and every
thing possible is being done to give US good
stable foundation from which to start. Besides
the Washington public has manifested an active
interest In the National Guard beyond my
expectations With the support Of the
Government and the public nothing more
am fearful Of now is that viii be unable to meet
public expectations A great deal OF hard work is
bottom and build up the National Guard Every
thing Is to be done on strictly military principles
and good deal OF teaching, training, and syste-
matizng will be necessary before local militia
can run ITSELF The first thing necessary after the
| reorganization was authorized was to get the
troops TO form the militia and in this respect we
| have been highly successful. All OF the estab-
lished military organizations, with only two ex-
ceptions, readily came ill., and these together with
the new companies formed since reorganization,
make very respectable National Guard"
| ORGANIZATIONS MUSTERED IN.
"Wh0 have thus far joined p asked the reporter.
"Here are the Names" he replied, reading from
paper he selected from the mass of documents
about him. Washington Light Infantry corps.
| four companies, Major w. G. Moore; Union vete-
ran corps, first company, Capt NJ. E Urell; Custer
This is new company, formed by the sons OF
veterans. washington Continentals, one COM
pany, capt: W: ". Mills; Emmett Guards, one COM
| company, Capt. Henry +. Posten. This is a new
| company, formed by young men Of the first ward.
They are all young mechanics, about twenty or
twenty-five years OF age, and give promise OF be-
coming crack military organization. CorcOran
Cadets, one company, Capt. E. c. Edwards; Ord
way Rifles, one company, Capt. Argyle Mackay, q
new organization formed on Capitol Hill; National
Fencibles one company, Capt. Z. S. Domer, new
company formed from the National Rifle Cadet
corps and some OF the National Rifles: and the
Logan Guards, one company, Capt.S.E Thomason,
also new examination This completes the list
The colored contingent consists OF the Butler
Zouaves or light infantry, two companies. Major
panies, Major c. A. Fleetwood, and Capital City
Guards, four companies, Major S. C. Revells. This
tIe cS a,on G Guaro as at present
and ten cOlOred companies. company must con-
Sst OF not less than th1rtySeven men and not more
than hundred. That would give us about $50
men, with the companies as small as allowed. The
Washington Cadets have $50 over that limit, the
Light Infantry about 165, and the Capital City
Guards 20, 80 that the District militia to-day is
composed OF about $50 men. Three new white
companies are being formed, which will make the
| cOlored"
GROUPED INTO BATTALIoNs
"How are you going to group them into bat
talions?" asked the reporter.
any present plan," replied Gen. Ordway, sis to
make seven battaliOns In all four white and three
colored. The Washington Light Infantry viii
form the first battalion. The second battalion Will
consist Of the Union veteran Corps, LIST company,
and the Custer Guards. The COntinentals Emmett
Guards, and the Columbia Rifles will constitute
the third battalion. The fourth battalion Will in
cnde the CoreoEan Cadets. 0rdway Rifles, National
Fencioles, and Logan Guards You see the second
battalion will have but two companies and the
third battalion but three, so that the
three new companies being formed can be
placed In those battalionS. The Butler Zouaves
two companies, will form the 9TH battalion (coI-
ored), the Washington Cadets the 9th battalion
lcolOred), and the Capital City Guards, the 9TH
battalion (cOlOred). You see that If each company
should increase to the limit OF hundred men TO
each company and each OF the seven battaliOns
should consist OF four companies, the District MILL
tia would consist OF 2, 500 troops 1t Is not ex
pected that 1t will reach that size at least in the
near future, but provision will be made for that
number have nothing to do with the Organiza-
lions, except militia They can retain their dis
tinetiye names and uniforms. and can parade as
the Washington Light Infantry, Continentals or
Capital City GUARDS, and wear all the gold lace
and feathers they wish, but when they are ordered
Will be known as companies SO and so OF such and
such battaliOnS.
THE UNIFORM
SHOW about the uniform?".asked the reporter
fatigue uniform with the addition of russell leather
leggings such as naval landing parties wear, and
In nay estimation, VIII be as natty and attractive
uniform as can be found presume the uniforms
soon as possible and far as possible first to
those who need them most. The allotment for
the DlStr1ct militia for the present fiscal year
amounts TO S.. 529, 95, and this became available
on the first OF July. or course ii would be unyytse
TO expend the whole years allotment for uniforms
right at the start"
THE EFFECr M TUE r.TyorAr npyyy
"What effect did the National Drill have on the
District militia?"
"a very salutary effect" was the reply. "It
gave strong impetus to the latent military spirit
end there has been the most active interest dis.
prayed In mll1tary matters since then, not only
among boys, but among young men OF an age to
make the very best soldiers. They saw here milf
tia companies from all over the country They
learned just how they were organized and how
they were treated, and saw the advantages to be
gained from belonging to such organizations, and
when a like chance was offered them they accepted
It without hesitation expect that the Light In.
fantry Corps will number three hundred men
recruits in that organization Tonight. ! know
there is an impression among many people
that the majority OF the companies that took
part In the National Drill were detached and indie
pendent organizations and did not form part of
the regular militia OF the States from which they
came. This is a mistake. The only independent
companies present, except those from the District
were the indianapolis Light Infantry and the Keck
Guard"
NO LEGISLATION NECESSARY.
"There Is another wrong impression In the minds
OF some," said General Ordway, "that there is
some Congressional legislation needed before the
District National Guard can be firmly established,
and that the present reorganization Is temporary
In character, which Is intended to be authorized
by Congress next session. There never was a big
ger mistake. The District National Guard can eS-
list until doOmsday without particle or legislation
The President had full power to organize the Dis
trict militia as he did. The matter was referred
TO the law Officers OF the Government and was
sanctioned by them. Action was taken under
authority conferred by the law OF 1903 In the Re
vlsed statutes relating to the District OF Column
bia- Chapter 81 OF these Statutes contains IO4
sections touching the District militia and seven
OF these relate specifically to volunteer companies
section 1l9o. reads: ''The President shall
when he may deem it necessary. an
point the proper officers to compose at least
one troop OF cavalry one company Of artillery one
company OF light infantry, and one company OF
grenad1ers or r1flemen to each legion which Off-
GERS shall proceed by volunteer enlistment Within
their legion, to complete their companies with the
least possible delay" 1t makes no difference what
legion Is or that there are grenadierS No
| legislation Is needed under that law What we
would like and what We expect, is that Congress
Will furnish US some help, not in organizing but In
supporting the National Guard, by making some
SPECIFIC appropriation for the militia OF the Dis
trict just as the State legislatures do for the State
militia That Is ali that is expected OF Congress
| and TO that We think we are entitled"
THE RETENTION OF ARMS.